Adrian Sanders
Encyclopedia
Adrian Mark Sanders is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom
. He is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Torbay
in Devon
.
then Torquay Boys' Grammar School
. He worked briefly in a timber yard, then in the insurance industry for seven years, and then had a short spell of unemployment before finding work in the political arena.
Adrian Sanders is married to Alison and lives in Paignton. He has had Type 1 diabetes
since 1990 and campaigns on issues relating to diabetes.
Sanders is a fan of rock music
and occasionally presents a Rock Show on local radio station Palm 105.5. He is also a supporter of Torquay United
.
in 1979 and in 1985 was elected Vice President of the National League of Young Liberals. He was a Torbay
Borough councillor 1984-86. From 1986-89 he lived in Hebden Bridge
, West Yorkshire
, working for the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors before moving back to Paignton in 1990.
During 1992-93 Sanders worked in the office of Paddy Ashdown
, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, and organised the 'Beyond Westminster' Tour. He then moved to become a policy officer at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
(1993-94) and then the Southern Association of Voluntary Action Groups for Europe.
Sanders stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Torbay 1992 general election
, but did manage to reduce the Conservative
majority from 8,820 to 5,787. In the 1994 European Election he stood for the Devon and East Plymouth
constituency, narrowly losing because one of the candidates, Richard Huggett
, stood as a Literal Democrat and attracted 10,000 votes. The case prompted a change in the law
, banning potentially confusing party descriptions.
In the 1997 general election
Sanders stood again in Torbay, this time successfully, defeating the Conservative
incumbent Rupert Allason
by a majority of 12 votes. In the 2001 general election
Sanders increased his majority to 6,708, but it fell back to 2,029 at the 2005 general election
before rising to 4,078 in the 2010 General Election.
Following the 2001 election, Sanders was made the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Tourism
, and was subsequently moved to the position of Deputy Chief Whip of the Party in Parliament
, which he currently holds. He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes, sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
and is a member of the centre-left Beveridge Group
within the Liberal Democrats.
In the 2006 Leadership election contest Adrian supported Sir Menzies Campbell QC MP. In the December 2007 leadership election Adrian remained neutral, citing his position as Deputy Chief Whip. He wrote afterwards that he had voted for Chris Huhne MP who narrowly lost to Nick Clegg.http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=94039564&blogId=339511127
Sanders uses the Facebook and Myspace social networking sites to communicate with voters and others and since 2007 has produced a regular blog. In December 2008 Sanders produced his first video cast.
In October 2008 Sanders was nominated alongside seven other MPs and Peers for the first Diabetes UK Parliamentarian of the Year award. In the same month, during the Liberal Democrats
party conference it is alleged that he was involved in a disagreement with the chairman of Liberal Vision, Mark Littlewood
. According to reports, Littlewood fell to the ground during the disagreement which it's alleged had been prompted by Littlewood's claim that a number of Liberal Democrat
seats would be at risk from the Conservatives
at the next election.
Sanders was awarded the Diabetes UK 75th Anniversary Award at a ceremony in the House of Commons on Wednesday 21 January 2009. In July 2010, he received the League Against Cruel Sports’ Parliamentarian of the Year Award.
In April 2009, Sanders appeared in The Sunday Telegraph list of best value MPs. At the height of the expenses scandal, he opened his complete 'unredacted' expenses file to his local newspaper, the Herald Express. In December 2009 he received the all clear from Sir Thomas Legg, following an audit of the previous five years accounts.
In October 2011, along with 110 other MPs in the House of Commons, he voted for the motion to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union
. He was the only Liberal Democrat MP to do so.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Torbay
Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Notes and references:...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Personal life
Sanders is the son of the late John and Helen Sanders, an insurance official and nurse respectively. He went to primary schools in Paignton and TorquayTorquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
then Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School
Torquay Boys' Grammar School is a selective boys grammar school in Torquay, Devon, England.-Admissions:, it has approximately 1,058 students. The school was founded in 1904 and celebrated its centenary in 2004...
. He worked briefly in a timber yard, then in the insurance industry for seven years, and then had a short spell of unemployment before finding work in the political arena.
Adrian Sanders is married to Alison and lives in Paignton. He has had Type 1 diabetes
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...
since 1990 and campaigns on issues relating to diabetes.
Sanders is a fan of rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and occasionally presents a Rock Show on local radio station Palm 105.5. He is also a supporter of Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
.
Political career
Sanders joined the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
in 1979 and in 1985 was elected Vice President of the National League of Young Liberals. He was a Torbay
Torbay
Torbay is an east-facing bay and natural harbour, at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south-west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Part of the ceremonial county of Devon, Torbay was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1998...
Borough councillor 1984-86. From 1986-89 he lived in Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge
Hebden Bridge is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the Upper Calder Valley and lies 8 miles west of Halifax and 14 miles north east of Rochdale, at the confluence of the River Calder and the River Hebden .A 2004 profile of...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, working for the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors before moving back to Paignton in 1990.
During 1992-93 Sanders worked in the office of Paddy Ashdown
Paddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat....
, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, and organised the 'Beyond Westminster' Tour. He then moved to become a policy officer at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. NCVO works to support the voluntary and community sector and to create an environment in which an independent civil society can flourish...
(1993-94) and then the Southern Association of Voluntary Action Groups for Europe.
Sanders stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Torbay 1992 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
, but did manage to reduce the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
majority from 8,820 to 5,787. In the 1994 European Election he stood for the Devon and East Plymouth
Devon and East Plymouth (European Parliament constituency)
Devon and East Plymouth was a European Parliament constituency covering all of Devon in England, with the exception of the city of Plymouth. It was created in 1994 to replace the majority of Devon and a small part of Cornwall and Plymouth....
constituency, narrowly losing because one of the candidates, Richard Huggett
Richard Huggett
Richard John Huggett is a British citizen noted for standing in a variety of elections using descriptions which were similar, but not identical, to those of established political parties, leading to this practice being outlawed under the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998.Most notably he...
, stood as a Literal Democrat and attracted 10,000 votes. The case prompted a change in the law
Registration of Political Parties Act 1998
The Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 , or An Act to make provision about the registration of political parties was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to set up a register of political parties in the United Kingdom. Previously there had been no such register, and political...
, banning potentially confusing party descriptions.
In the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
Sanders stood again in Torbay, this time successfully, defeating the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
incumbent Rupert Allason
Rupert Allason
Rupert William Simon Allason is a military historian and former Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Torbay in Devon, from 1987 to 1997...
by a majority of 12 votes. In the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
Sanders increased his majority to 6,708, but it fell back to 2,029 at the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
before rising to 4,078 in the 2010 General Election.
Following the 2001 election, Sanders was made the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, and was subsequently moved to the position of Deputy Chief Whip of the Party in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, which he currently holds. He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes, sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee is one of the Select Committees of the British House of Commons, established in 1997. It oversees the operations of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport which replaced the Department for National Heritage....
and is a member of the centre-left Beveridge Group
Beveridge Group
The Beveridge Group is a centre-left group within the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. It was set up in 2001 by MPs Alistair Carmichael, Paul Holmes, John Barrett and John Pugh to promote debate within the party regarding public service provision....
within the Liberal Democrats.
In the 2006 Leadership election contest Adrian supported Sir Menzies Campbell QC MP. In the December 2007 leadership election Adrian remained neutral, citing his position as Deputy Chief Whip. He wrote afterwards that he had voted for Chris Huhne MP who narrowly lost to Nick Clegg.http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=94039564&blogId=339511127
Sanders uses the Facebook and Myspace social networking sites to communicate with voters and others and since 2007 has produced a regular blog. In December 2008 Sanders produced his first video cast.
In October 2008 Sanders was nominated alongside seven other MPs and Peers for the first Diabetes UK Parliamentarian of the Year award. In the same month, during the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
party conference it is alleged that he was involved in a disagreement with the chairman of Liberal Vision, Mark Littlewood
Mark Littlewood
Mark Littlewood is the Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs . He has formerly been chief press spokesman for the Liberal Democrats and the Pro Euro Conservative Party....
. According to reports, Littlewood fell to the ground during the disagreement which it's alleged had been prompted by Littlewood's claim that a number of Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
seats would be at risk from the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
at the next election.
Sanders was awarded the Diabetes UK 75th Anniversary Award at a ceremony in the House of Commons on Wednesday 21 January 2009. In July 2010, he received the League Against Cruel Sports’ Parliamentarian of the Year Award.
In April 2009, Sanders appeared in The Sunday Telegraph list of best value MPs. At the height of the expenses scandal, he opened his complete 'unredacted' expenses file to his local newspaper, the Herald Express. In December 2009 he received the all clear from Sir Thomas Legg, following an audit of the previous five years accounts.
In October 2011, along with 110 other MPs in the House of Commons, he voted for the motion to hold a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. He was the only Liberal Democrat MP to do so.
External links
- Adrian Sanders MP official constituency website
- Profile at Liberal Democrats
- Torbay Liberal Democrats